Answers to General FAQs

What is OnePurdue?
OnePurdue is the University’s three-year, enterprise-wide initiative that will change the way Purdue does business by integrating mission-critical enterprise data, information and business processes. Once fully implemented, OnePurdue applications will be used by virtually everyone in the University.

What is ERP?
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is a collection of software applications that uses a common database to integrate an organization’s business processes. For Purdue, this will include such business-critical processes as financial management, human resource management, student services and administration, and sponsored programs services and administration.
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What is business intelligence?
Business intelligence is a broad term for software reporting tools that will use the same databases as the ERP software to generate customizable reports. It will allow administrators and other University decision makers to view real-time, accurate data in a wide variety of areas throughout the four-campus system.
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What applications are included in the OnePurdue vision?
Financial management, human resources and services, and student management and services are the three biggest components that will be included in SAP and Banner's software packages. (Financial and HR applications will come from SAP, while OnePurdue will use SunGard Higher Education's Banner package for the new student-related systems.) The business-intelligence package will include tools to do basic reporting, report management, ad hoc queries, real-time analytics and customizable dashboards (sometimes known as “scorecards”) for administrators.
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What is Constituent Relationship Management?
Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) is an information industry term that refers to methodologies and software that will lead to the coordination of information about Purdue's many contacts outside of the University, including businesses and prospective students and donors. Using CRM technology will allow us to better know our constituents and coordinate our contacts with them more efficiently. Purdue is currently using a primitive CRM application, but one included in the new OnePurdue systems will be Web-based and much quicker.
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What is an enterprise portal?
Previously called “Window to OnePurdue,” this ERP technology will build a custom home page for each user. Once logged into the system, it will know who they are (student, faculty, staff, etc. — or perhaps some combination of roles), what they need to know, and present them with a Web page designed to meet their specific needs — in essence, their own personal portal to OnePurdue. To some extent, each user's portal will also be customizable to better match their own preferences.
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What are the benefits of OnePurdue?
By providing one common database for all departments — in place of the dozens of individual ones that now exist — everyone at Purdue will know that they are getting the most up-to-date information possible. In addition, it will be the exact same data that everyone else sees — no matter where they are. This will greatly cut down errors and duplicate (and sometimes erroneous) data that is becoming more commonplace with the University's current legacy applications. Finally, by being able to access information from the Web, users will not have to worry about what kind of computer they have. If it can run a browser, they'll be able to find what they need in a timely, convenient, smoother and more accurate manner.
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Why do we need OnePurdue now?
The software applications currently being used by Purdue (known collectively as "legacy" systems) are, in most cases, at least 25-30 years old. These applications were written in a programming language (COBOL) that not only is no longer commonly used, but is also not even taught much anymore. The people who wrote Purdue's legacy software back in the 1970s are retired or will be soon, and it's getting increasingly more difficult to find people with the knowledge needed to maintain these systems.

An even bigger concern involves the current software's reliability. As many at Purdue know only too well, these old applications are very prone to problems and downtime, and altering any database structure can often lead to serious ripple effects throughout all campus systems. By implementing OnePurdue now, Purdue will save more money and prevent future problems as it increases productivity, accuracy and efficiency in all of its functions, all the while better serving student, faculty, staff and other groups in the University community.

Finally, Purdue is becoming a more information-centric institution with emphasis on performance-oriented indicators and data-driven decisions. The problem is that today's raw data is poorly integrated and often redundantly stored in dozens of different files and databases. This leads to what is sometimes called "multiple versions of the truth" that depend on which data source one accesses. Having all these versions of information also makes it difficult to fully implement a data-driven academy. Above all else, OnePurdue will integrate the data and processes that create and use the information.
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Are other universities implementing ERPs?
Yes. Many universities across the country — including major research institutions like Purdue — have already implemented their own ERP systems (or are in the process of doing so). In fact, Purdue is one of the last Big Ten schools that has not.
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Why is OnePurdue so expensive?
Since it will encompass every facet of the University and replace most of Purdue's existing "legacy" software, the magnitude of this project is understandably enormous. Ultimately, about 150 people (most of them non-technical personnel) will be working full-time to implement the SAP software, business intelligence and other associated systems that make up OnePurdue. In addition, not only will this project involve the purchase of new hardware and applications, but all of the data currently residing in existing files and databases will need to be profiled, “cleansed” and migrated to OnePurdue's integrated database. This will be a huge and complex project in itself, involving many people and thousands of hours of work.
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How long will it take to implement?
OnePurdue is divided into three major parts, or “modules” (financial, human resources and student applications) that will be implemented in stages over a three-year period. Financial applications will “go live” first, with HR modules a few months later. The student applications, the most complex module, is currently projected to be finished in spring 2008.
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When will this happen?
It’s happening now! After more than a year of planning and preparation, the project officially began July 1, 2005.
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What is the implementation strategy?
The maximum benefit from OnePurdue will be realized when Student Services, Human Resources and financial systems are all implemented in parallel. Although each area will officially begin its implementation July 1, 2005, they will have different ending, or "go-live," dates (when the new SAP and Banner software have replaced old legacy applications).

There are a number of reasons for this staggered process. Financials, for instance, needs to officially begin in coordination with the start of Purdue's fiscal year (July 1). Similarly, most universities' HR subsystems are timed to begin in conjunction with the beginning of a tax year (January 1). In addition, the software packages involving students are much more complex, so will take additional time to be fully operational.
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Will the regional campuses be involved with OnePurdue?
Yes. OnePurdue will be shared among and benefit each of the University's campuses. Representatives from Calumet, Fort Wayne and North Central are involved in the project's implementation, as they were during the planning and selection processes.
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Who will implement OnePurdue?
This is not an IT project, but a business-driven initiative supported by SAP and Banner ERP technology. The OnePurdue team, located in the Ross Enterprise Center (the former Whirlpool Building) in Purdue Research Park, involves a partnership between a wide variety of individuals from the University community representing all user groups, the technical community in ITaP, and SAP and SunGard Higher Education consultants, who bring experience in implementing such massive systems. At its peak, about 150 people were involved with the project full-time. There are also two governing bodies and several advisory committees with representation from all four campuses and throughout the Purdue system.
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Will Purdue provide training?
Yes. Training will be offered for every user, and several specific types of specialized training will be designed for a variety of user groups (Human Resources, Student Services, financial, administrative personnel, faculty, etc.) depending on their individual requirements.
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How will I access OnePurdue and its services and reports?
All systems that a user will be authorized to access will be entered through a password-protected Internet portal. Because it will be Web-based, users will be able to log on anytime and anywhere — even from home.
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Will my e-mail address change?
Possibly. This is an issue still being investigated and considered.
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Why are we buying software from an outside vendor? Why not just design something ourselves?
Considering the enormity and complexity of this project, it is actually much less expensive to purchase an essentially prepackaged product, use it as delivered and adapting to it instead of doing a lot of modifications. This is sometimes referred to as implementing a “vanilla” system, and doing so will save Purdue many millions of dollars. In addition, the University will get a modern system much more quickly than would be possible if we built it ourselves. This is because SAP and SunGard Higher Education, like most ERP software vendors, have the army of developers necessary to keep pace with ever-changing requirements in higher education, and they can spread their costs across all of their customers.
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Will I have to get a new Purdue ID card?
No. The University will continue to use the new PUID system, which was implemented November 2003. It will serve as everyone's unique identifier for all of their records at Purdue.
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Will OnePurdue work on my Macintosh?
Yes. One of the beauties of today's web-based ERP systems is that they usually don't prescribe a particular platform. So whether you're using Windows, Linux, UNIX or a Mac, any computer with an Internet connection and a qualified browser will be able to access the system. (More specific information about any minimum hardware and software requirements will be posted on this site as it becomes available.)
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Will OnePurdue work with any browser?
A specific list of recommended browsers has yet to be determined, although it will likely work with all the standard browsers in use today. More specific information about this will be available on this Web site at a later date.
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Will I be able to access OnePurdue if I only have dial-up Internet access at home?
Yes, although it will run more slowly at home with only a dial-up connection than over Purdue's high-speed lines. OnePurdue's performance at home using a DSL or cable (broadband) modem, however, will be comparable to the Internet connection speed you would experience on campus computers.
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Will I have to upgrade my computer?
Probably not. As with all software and Web browsers, there will be minimum system requirements, but most computers purchased within the past few years will likely already meet them. More information about will be posted on this site once it is known.
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How can I stay informed of OnePurdue’s progress?
The best way to stay up to date with OnePurdue is through this Web site. It is updated regularly with news and information about the project's planning and implementation. It also contains useful information and reference material that will help you learn more about OnePurdue and ERPs, in general.
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My question wasn’t answered here. Where can I get more information?
If your concerns were not covered somewhere on this Web site, please send a question to us at onepurdue@purdue.edu. We'll do our best to answer it.
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